Filling machine



FILLING MACHINEV Aile# 31 1943. f Rf-BSTQw-R En; 2,328,401

. Filed July 27, 1940 2 sheets-sheet 2 Patented Aug. 31, 1943 FILLING MACHINE Boy B. Stover, Toledo. Ohio, and Clarence A. Hoy, Hoopeston, lil.; said- Hoy assigner to Food Machinery Corporation, San JosaUaIif., a corporation of Delaware, and said Stover assignor to Owens-Illinois Glass Company. a corporation of Ohio Application July 27, 1940. Serial No. 341,914

lciaims.

This invention relates to machines for filling containers, such as cans and Jars, with food commodities, particularly cut vegetables, such as: sliced beets, cut string beans, diced beets, diced carrots, diced potatoes, mixed diced vegetables, shoe string beans, shoe string carrots, and shoe string potatoes.

Heretofore, cut vegetables had to be packed, partly or entirely. by hand. The diiiiculties en- 1 vcountered in lining the containers mechanically from a hopper arose from the fact that the product because o f its shape would not readily pack in the container with the result that the container left the hopper only partially iilled. It was usually undesirable to use a mechanical packing means, such as a packer wheel, which would exert a downward pressure on the contents of the can, because of the danger of crushing the product. Shoe string potatoes. for example, are quite brittle, and easily break.

The problem was quite pronounced in thecase of packing shoe string cut vegetables, like shoe string potatoes. in jars. In the first place, the fact that the opening in the top of the jar is smaller in diameter than the inside of the Jar. makes it diiiicult to fill. In the second place, the lengthy shape of the pieces of shoe string potato makes them awkward to pack because the pieces tend to bridge the opening of the jar and in other ways obstruct the complete illling thereof.

One of the objects of this invention is to provide a machine capable of automatically filling containers, such as cans or jars, with food commoditiesl which have been cut into pieces. The

term "cut food commodities, as employed herein and in the appended claims, is intended to mean any of the many food commodities which are out into pieces of various shape before being packed into the containers.

Another object of the invention is to provide a machine of the type employing a rotary lling table with two filling hoppers and with means for jarring 'the containers during v the illing operation.

A further object is to provide a means located under the containers which will apply a sudden and repeated shock thereto which will have somewhat the same eii'ect as tamping the commodity down into the container from above. In other words, instead of applying a downward pressure directly on the commodity, the container is given a sudden upward movement, so that the inertia of the commodity causes it to settle down in the container.

Other objects will appear after the disclosure of a machine in which the invention has been embodied.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of the machine with part of the table broken away.

Fig. 2 is a vertical section thereof taken as indicated by the arrows 2-2 in Fig. l.

Fig. 3 is a detail view taken as indicated by the arrows 2-2 in Fig. l.

The invention is disclosed as embodied in a machine of the general type disclosed in the patent to W. F. Christel, No. 2,150,490, issued AMarch 14, 1939. The machine comprises a revolving table I0 (Figs. 1 and 2) having a series of filling openings il arranged around its periphery. Each ailing opening Il has e. downwardly projecting lip I2 for fitting into the open end of the can. The central portion l2 of the table l0 is depressed to form a bowl for the reception of excess material. The table I0 is supported upon and rigidhr secured to the wheel ll'having a central protuberance I5 for supporting the center of the bowl portion il and having an upstanding peripheral flange I8 for supporting the' peripheral portion of the table Il. A feed ring AI1 lis secured to the wheel I4 and is provided with feed ngers I8. Intermediate the lingers I8 are formed arcuate openings or pockets i9 into which the cans fit, and whichserve to center the cans in registry with the illling openings i i.

A stationary track 2li comprising two spacedapart concentric rails 2l, 22 is provided for supporting the cans` during their travel around with the table, the ngers i8 engaging the walls of the cans to advance the cans along the track 20.

As shown in Fig. 2, the rails 2| and 22 are mounted in fixed position by means of brackets attached to the frame of the machine. A circular fixed guide rail 2l is supported on brackets 28 concentric with the table l0 to retain the'cans in the arcuate openings i! of the feed ringv I1.

The wheel I4 towhich the table l0 and feed ring l1 are secured is supported on a vertical shaft 21 (Fig. 2) having a hand wheel 21 secured to its lower end. The upper end of the shaft 21 is received in the bore of the hub 28 o' the wheel i4. The lower end of the hub 28 bears against a collar 29 secured to the shaft 21 by a pin 30. The shaft 21 is supported by a worm wheel 3i, into the hub 32 of which the shaft 21 is threaded. The worm wheel 3i is supported in a bearing 32 mounted in the central portionl of the machine framework 24.

In order to transmit rotation from the worm wheel 3| to the wheel il the latter is provided of the filling openings |I.

with plunger rods 35 secured in bosses 36 formed integrally with the wheel I4. The rods 95 slidably engage bores 31 formed in upstanding` bosses 38 on the worm wheel 3|. A set screw 39 is threaded through the hub 32 of the worm wheel and bears against the shaft 21 to lock the worm wheel and shafttogether in any adjusted position. The threaded shaft 21 is rotated to raise and lower the table with respect to the track 20 in order to enable the machine to accommodate cans of different height. Rotation of the worm wheel 3| is transmitted through the rods 35 to the wheel |4 so that the table I0 rotates in unison with the worm wheel 3|.

The means for driving the worm wheel 3| is shown in phantom in Fig. 1. The worm wheel 3| is driven by a worm 40 on a shaft 4| which is driven from a power shaft 42 by bevel gears 43. The outer end of the power shaft 42 has a pulley 44 adapted to be driven from a source of power not shown.

Suitable means of well-known construction are provided for feeding the cans into the machine and for discharging them therefrom. The feeding means comprises a rotary disc 50 on which the empty cans are deposited. A stationary guide is positioned above the disc to direct the cans toward the feed ring I1. A spring-pressed pivoted arm device 52 admits the cans one by one to the pockets |9 and the fingers IB transfer the cans from the disc to the track 20. The beginning of the guide rail 25 projects over the disc to guide the cans into the pockets vI9 and retain them therein. The cans are thujs carried around in registry with the filling openings II.

After the cans are filled, by mechanism presently to be described, they are deposited on a ro'- tary discharge disc 53. The track and the guide rail terminate at 54 and 55, respectively, above the discharge disc 53 and the fingers I8 move the cans ofi' the end of the track onto the disc. A stationary rake 56 projects under the feed ring I1 to intercept the cans and remove.

them from the pockets |9. An arcuate portion 51 of the rake directs the filled cans around in the direction of rotation ofthe discharge disc 53.

The means for filling the containers comprises two hcppers 60 and 6| (Fig. 1) disposed above the revolving table I0 and containing a supply of the commodity. The hoppers are duplicates so only one will be described in detail. The hopper 60 comprises a funnel-shaped sheet-metal upper portion 62 (Fig. 2) which is fitted into a cast base 63 having an outlet 64 which is elongated, as shown in Fig. l, along the path of travel The commodity is discharged from the hopper outlet 64 onto the table I0 and through the filling openings |I into the containers therebeneath. The hopper is supported by means of two posts, one of which appears at 65 in Fig. 2. The upper end of the post is secured in the hopper base 63 at 66 and the lower end slidably engages in an aperture 61 A in a bracket 68 secured to the frame 24. The hopper is lowered until it just clears the surface of the table I0 and is held in adjusted position by the set screw 69 threaded through the bracket 68 and bearing against the post 65.

To facilitate the discharge of the commodity from the hopper 60 a feed screw 10 is rotatably mounted in the base 63 with the shaft 1| thereof parallel to the table I0. The screw shaft 1| is rotated by means of a flexible drive 12 (Fig. l) from the worm shaft 4| in a direction to feed the material in a direction opposite to that of the table which is indicated by the arrow 13 placed thereon. The outside diameter of the screw 10 decreases in the direction of feed.

The second hopper 6| is spaced apart from the first hopper 60 and is mounted above the table y I0 so that its elongated outlet 80 is along the path of travel of the filling openings The second hopper is likewise provided with a feed screw 8| on a shaft 02 which is driven from the shaft 1| by means of bevel gears 03.

Means are provided for jarring the containers as they are slid around the track 20 by the fingers I8, comprising an arcuate strip of metal dis'- posed between the rails 2|, 22 and coextensive therewith. The arcuate strip 90 is independent of the rails of the track and is free to move up and down with respect thereto.- The strip 90 is supported on straps, one of which is shown at 9| in Fig. 3. The strap 9| is welded to the under side of the rails 2| and 22. The arcuate strip 90 is of the same thickness as the rails so that when it is resting on the strap 9| its upper surface is in' the same plane as the upper surfaces of the rails and is, therefore, in contact with the bottom of the container.

The strap 9| (Fig. 3) has an aperture 92 into which a rod 93 projects. A vertical movement is imparted to the rod 93 by means of an4 eccentric 94 which is rotated by a motor 95 (Figs. l and 2). Every time the eccentric passes through top dead center the rod 93 strikes the strip 90 a sharp blow, elevating it to the broken line position 96 (Fig, 3). As the eccentric 94 is rapidly rotated by the motor 95y a continuous series of rapidhammer-like blows is delivered to the strip 90 which constantly jarsv the container.

There are two of these jarring 'mechanisms The other is the same as the one just described and is located under the iirst hopper 60 (Figs. 1 and 2). It vcomprises a motor |00 supported on a bracket |0| with an eccentric |02 mounted on the motor shaft and actuating a` striker rod |03, the upper end of which projects through an aperture in the strap |04 secured to the rails 2| and 22.

The operation of the machine is as follows: 'I'he table I0 is elevated to the proper distance above the track 20 to accommodate the height of the container which is to be filled. This is accomplished by turning the hand wheel 21' until there is just suicient clearance between the rim of the container and the lip I2 of the filling opening in the table to permit the container to be moved upwardly by the arcuate strip 90 when the latter is raised by the rods 93 and |03 of the motor-driven eccentrics.

The hoppers 60 and 6| are lowered until their bases just clear the surface of the table and they are held in this position by tightening the set screws on the supporting posts. Power is then applied to the pulley 44 to set the machine in motion.

The empty containers, such as cans or jars, are deposited right-side-up on the rotating disc 50 which feeds them to the feed ring I1, where they are admitted one by one to the pockets I9 by the device 52. The lingers I0 move the containers onto the track 20 and the rail 25 retains them in position in the pockets I9.l The containers are jolted by the action of the striker rods 93, |03 on the strip 90. This does not interfere with the advancement of the containers along the track because they are free to move upwardly in the pockets I 9 of the feed ring.

As the containers come under the outlet 64 of the first hopper 60 the commodity drops into the container and is shaken into place bythe brim when it leaves the nrst hopper but during its travel to the second hopper it is still subjected to the jarring action so that vif anyfurther settling or packing occurs, additional commodity is supplied from the second hopper. When the container leaves the second hopper it is completely filled and packed with the commodity.

The jarring action continues until the container is delivered to the discharge disc. During its travel from the second hopper 6i its contents settle slightly, but this is not disadvantageous for it makes unnecessary the provision of any means to remove the excess material from the top of the container. The result is that by -the time the container arrives at the discharge disc it is packed with the commodityand is filled t the proper level, which should be a short dis,`

tance below the top edge to permit sealing or capping. The container is then automatically removed from the table by the rake I6 and the rotating discharge' disc 53.

While we have described a particular embodiment of the present invention, it will be obvious that various changes and modifications may be made in the details thereof without departing from the spirit of the present invention and the scope of the appended claims.

' Having thus described our invention and in what manner the same may be used, what we claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

l. In a machine for filling containers, such as cans and jars, without food commodities, a rotary table having ailing openings around its periphery, a circular track under said table having spaced-apart concentric rails, means engaging the side walls of the containers to center the containers under said filling openings and to ad- Vance the containers along said track, said engaging means permitting vertical movement of the containers, a hopper for containing a supply ofthe material having an outlet disposed above said table, an arcuate strip disposed between said rails, straps secured to the under side of said rails to support said strip, one of said straps having an aperture therein, a rod having its upper end projecting into said aperture, and means to move said rod vertically to cause the upper end thereof to strike the under side of said strip intermittent blows.

2. In a machine for filling containers, such as cans and jars, with cut food commodities, a rotary table having filling openings around its periphery, a circular track under said table having spaced-apart concentric rails, means engaging the side walls of the containers to center the containers under said nlling openings and to advance the containersvalong said track, said engaging means permitting vertical movement of the containers. a hopper for containing a supply of the material having an outlet disposed above said table, an arcuate strip disposed between said rails. straps secured to the under side of said rails to support said strip, one of said straps having an aperture therein, a rod having its upper end projecting into said aperture, and a motor-driven eccentric to move said rod up and down to cause the upper end thereof to strike said strip intermittent blows. the upper end of said rod being spaced apart from said strip in the bottom dead center position of said eccentric.

3. In a machine for fillingv containers, such as cans and jars. with cut food commodities, a rotary table having filling openings around its periphery, a circular track under said table having spaced apart concentric rails, means engaging the side walls of the containers to center the containers under said lling openings and to advance the containers along said track, said engaging means permitting vertical movement of the containers, a plurality of hoppers above said table having outlets spaced apart along the path of said nlling openings, an arcuate strip disposed between said rails and adapted to engage the bottoms of the containers, and `a plurality oi' spacedapart strikers to deliver intermittentbiows to said strip.

4. In' a machine for filling containerssuch as cans and jars with solid commodities and wherein the container serves as the measure for filling, a rotary table having filling openings arranged about the axis thereof, said illling openings having lip portions adapted to fit over the open ends of the containers. during nlling, means for conveying the containers in registry with the `filling openings, a support over which the containers move during their travel with said table, a stationaryv hopper having `an elongated outlet in its bottom disposed above and extending in the direction of the path of said filling openings whereby commodity may gravitate from the hopper through said outlet to said table and through v said nlling openings" into the containers beheath. said outlet, being of greater length than the width of a filling opening whereby the filling opening travels for a distance in receiving relation to said outlet. an arcuate member associated with said support and engageabie with the bottoms of the containers in their travel with said table, and means for substantially continuously vibrating said member whereby the containers are substantially constantly jarred by said inember while over the same, said member being disposed under said hopper outlet to constantly iar the containers during the filling operation and extending beyond said outlet to ycontinue said jarring after the filling operation to settle the commodity in the lips of said filling openings whereby all the commodity is within the connues of the container. I

5. In a machine for iilling containers such as cans and jars with solid commodities and wherein the container serves as the measure for filling, a rotary table having filling openings arranged about the axis thereof, said lling openings hav-V ing downwardly projecting lips adapted to fit into the open ends of the containers during iilling,

means for conveying the containers in registry with the filling openings,l a support over which the containers move during their travel with said table, a paix` of stationary hoppers each having an elongated outlet in its bottom disposed above and extending in the direction of the path of said filling openings whereby commodity may gravitate from the hopper through said outlet to said table and through said lling openings into the containers beneath, each outlet being of greater length than the width of a nlling opening whereby the filling opening travels for a distance in receiving relation to said outlet, an arcuate member associated with said support and engageable with the bottoms of the containers in their travel with said table, and means for substantially continuously vibrating said member whereby the containers are substantially constantly jarred by said member while over the same, said member being disposed under the outlet of one of said hoppers and extending beyond said outlet under the outlet of said second hopper and past said second hopper outlet whereby to substantially constantly jar the containers during filling and after filling by each of said hoppers to settle the commodity during and after filling under the first hopper and to settle it sufliciently in the lips of said filling openings after refilling by the second hopper whereby ally the commodity is Within the confines of the containers.

6. In a machine for lling containers such as cans and jars with solid commodities and wherein the container serves as the measure for filling, a rotary table having filling openings arranged about the axis thereof, said filling openings having lip portions adapted to t over the open ends of the containers during filling, means for conveying the containers in registry with said filling openings, a stationary hopper having an elongated outlet in its bottom disposed above and extending in the direction of the path of said filling openings whereby commodity may gravitate from the hopper through said outlet to said table and through said filling openings into the unfilled containers beneath, said outlet being of greater length than the width of a filling opening whereby the filling opening travels for a distance in receiving relation to said outlet, an arcuate member extending along the path of said filling openings under ,and beyond said hopper outlet, said member engaging the bottoms of the containers and supporting the containers in their travel with said table, means for supporting said arcuate member, means adjacent oneend of said arcuate member for feeding unfilled containers thereon and into engagement with said conveying means, means adjacent the other end of said arcuate member for discharging filled containers from said member and conveyingl means and means for substantially continuously vibrating said member along its length whereby substantially all the containers in engagement with said conveyor are substantially constantly jarred by said member from substantially the time they enter the path of said filling openings lto be filled by said hopper until they leave the said path after final filling by said hopper and such that the commodity fills the containers and the filled containers are discharged from the conveyor substantially without spillage- 7. In a machine for filling containers such as vcans and jars with solid commodities and Wherein the container serves as the measure for filling, a rotary table having filling,r openings arranged about the axis thereof 'said filling openings having lip portions adapted to fit over the open ends of the containers during filling, means for conveying the containers in registry with the filling openings, a plurality of stationary hoppers each having an elongated outlet in its bottom disposed above and extending in the direction of the path of said filling openings whereby commodity may gravitate from the hopper through said outlet to said table and through said filling openings into the containers beneath, each outlet being of greater length than the Width of a fillingopening whereby the filling opening travels for a distance in receiving relation to said outlet,

and arcuate means disposed along the path of said filling openings and extending under each hopper outlet and beyond the last hopper outlet to be encountered by the containers, said means engaging the bottoms of the containers and supporting the containers in their travel with said table, means for supporting said arcuate means,

' and a plurality of mechanical means associated with said arcuate means for substantially continuously vibrating said arcuate means along its length whereby the containers are substantially constantly jarred by said arcuate means during and after filling by each of said hoppers and are jarred sufficiently after filling by the last of said hoppers to settle the commodity in the lips of said lling openings to confine all the commodity within the confines of the containers, one of said mechanical means being positioned to actuate said arcuate means at the hopper rst encountered by the containers in filling and another of said mechanical means being positioned to actuate said arcuate means at a point beyond the last hopper encountered by the containers in filling.

8. In a machine for filling containers such as cans and Jars, with solid food commodities, and wherein the container serves as the measure for filling, a rotary table having filling openings around its periphery, a circular track under said table, means engaging the side walls of the containers to center the containers along said track, said engaging means permitting vertical movement of the containers, a stationary hopper for containing a supply of the commodity and having an outlet disposed above and in the path of said filling openings whereby commodity may gravitate from` said hopper through said filling openings into the containers beneath, an arcuate strip positioned substa-ntially concentric to said track, straps secured to the under side of said track and extending under said arcuate strip to support the same, a rod for moving said strip vertically to jar the containers, and means engaging said rod for substantially continuously oscillating said rod and strip whereby to substantially constantly jar the containers, said strip being disposed under said hopper outlet to substantially constantly jar the containers during the filling operation and extending beyond said hopper outlet to continue said jarring after the lling operation to settle the commodity in said filling openings within the confines of said containers.

9. In a machine for filling containers such as cans and jars with solid commodities and wherein the container serves as the measure for filling, a rotary table having filling openings arranged about the axis thereof, said filling openings adapted to be positioned over the open ends of the containers during filling, means for conveying the containers in registry with the filling openings, a support over which the containers -move during their travel with said table, a stationary hopper having an elongated outlet in its bottom disposed above and extending in a direction of the path of said filling openings whereby commodity may gravitate from the hopper through said outlet and through said filling openings into the containers beneath, said outlet being of greater length than the width of a filling opening whereby the filling opening travels for a distance in receiving relation to said outlet, an arcuate member associated with said support and engageable with the bottoms of the containers in their travel with said table, and means for substantially continuously vibrating said member whereby the containers are substantially constantly jarred by said .member while over the same, said member being disposed under said hopper outlet to Jar the containers throughout'I the filling operation and extending sumciently beyond said outlet to continue said jarring after the filling operation to settle the commodity in the containers below-said filling openings.

10. In a machine for illli-ng containers such as cans and jars with solid commodities and wherein the container serves as the measure for nlling, arotary table having filling openings arranged about the axis thereof, said illing open-` ings adapted to be positioned over the open ends of the containers during illling, means for conveying the containers in registry with the filling openings, a circular track over which the containers move during their travel with said table, a pair of stationary hoppers each having an elongated voutlet in its bottom disposed above and extending in the direction ofthe path of said i'iliing openings whereby commodity may gravitate from the hopper through said outlet and through said nliing openings into the containers beneath, each outlet being of greater length than the width of a iilllng opening whereby the illlingvopening travels for a distance in receiving relation to said outlets. arcuate means positioned substantially concentric to said track and engageable with the bottoms of the containers in their travel over said track, and means for substantially continuously vibrating said arcuate means whereby the containers are substantially constantly jarred by said arcuate means while over the same, said arcuate means being disposed under the rst of said hoppers to be encountered by the containers during filling and extending beyond said outlet whereby to substantially constantly jar the containers during filling and after iilling by said hopper to settle the commodity in said container, and said arcuate means being also disposed under the second of said hoppers and extending beyond said second hopper to substantially constantly jar the containers during any refilling by said second hopper and after.

said refilling, to `settle the commodity in the containers below said filling openings.

ROY B. STOVER. CLARENCE A. HOY. 

